Super Bowl & Football

IRVINE, Calif. - Although the major freeze event that hit Southern California this week caused significant damage to the 2007 avocado crop directly in its path, most of the state's 6,500 growers who farm 60,000 acres in California will be able to supply the market to meet consumer demand in 2007, according to the California Avocado Commission (CAC) based here.

ABINGDON, Va. -- Next year regional chain Food City, operated by K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. here, will celebrate its 15th anniversary of sponsoring the NASCAR Nextel Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. To mark the occasion, Food City and Bristol Motor Speedway are giving one person the chance to have a party to remember at the annual race, with the "15 Years - 15 Winners" promotion.

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. -- Tops Markets here ha joined forces with the Buffalo Bills football team to offer fans a range of corporate-brand products sporting the images both current and former Bills players.

WEST BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Shaw's Supermarkets here has signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the New England Patriots football team, the first such deal for the Northeastern retailer with a professional sports club, according to a published report.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Just in time for football tailgating and holiday parties, Food Lion is introducing a new line of private brand potato chips that, in response to customer feedback, contains no trans fat and no preservatives.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. said yesterday it has reached a multimedia agreement with ESPN to promote its HDTV offerings on ESPN's Monday Night Football and surround programming and content for the 2006-07 season. The pact will facilitate the transformation of the traditional three-hour primetime football game telecast into a 24-hour multimedia event.

The Super Bowl party today might comprise the biggest play of all for grocers.

The Super Bowl party today might comprise the biggest play of all for grocers.